Body-attached switch means and holder for a microphone

ABSTRACT

Presently disclosed is a microphone mounted on a support which is suspended from the user&#39;&#39;s neck. An on-off switch for the microphone carries a switch actuating member terminating in proximity of the user&#39;&#39;s head to permit head movement to close the microphone control switch.

United States Patent Inventor Zane 0. Holmes 2527 NE. 57th Ave.,Portland, Oreg. 97213 Appl. No. 808,600

Filed Mar. 19, 1969 Patented June 22, I971 BODY-ATTACHED SWITCH MEANSAND HOLDER FOR A MICROPHONE 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 200/52, 340/27 9 Int. Cl H0lh 35/00 Field of Search 200/52 BA,

6|.0l,6l.41-6l.43,6l.716l.74,61.9],82, 83.34, 8391,1531), 168 A, 52, 52A; 179/122; 340/272, 278, 279

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,042,821 6/1936 Bennett179/122 2,747,038 5/1956 Perkovich 200/52 (BA) 2,842,628 7/1958 James200/5 2 3,054,868 9/1962 Phillians 340/279 3,229,059 1/1966 BeattyZOO/61.41

Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott AttorneyJames D. Givnan, Jr.

ABSTRACT: Presently disclosed is a microphone mounted on a support whichis suspended from the users neck. An on-off switch for the microphonecarries a switch actuating member terminating in proximity of the usershead to permit head movement to close the microphone control switch.

BODY-ATTACHED SWITCII MEANS AND HOLDER FOR A MICROPHONE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to communicationsystems and more particularly to portable radio equipment carried on theperson.

The use of portable two-way radio equipment has become common place.Miniaturization of radio components along with increased durability nowmake practical the portable use of two-way (transmit and receive)radios, in many occupations. Such radios are commonly referred to aswalkie talkies. Such occupations include for example police work,construction and logging industries, production line supervisors andothers too numerous to mention.

Recently it has been found highly practical to provide personal two-wayradios to train crew members particularly brakemen who must visuallycheck and report on the status of railroad cars while under way thisrequiring the hazardous task of moving from car to car.

An objectionable feature to radio use in the past by brakemen has beenthe fact that the crew member, while checking the cars under way, inorder to transmit must use one hand for operation of the radio'smicrophone, the radio unit itself being strapped to the person's body.These microphones are commonly of the push-to-talk type and are known asremote microphones (not integral part of radio unit) being in circuitwith the transmitting circuit of the radio via a length of coiled cord.Obviously the use. of one hand for the microphone-switching operationjeopardizes the crewman's safety.

The present switch means avoids this objectionable feature by permittinga slight tilting of the user's head to close the microphone controlswitch. The slight tilting of the head to close the switch andsubsequent jaw movement during speech does not distort nor hamper theusers diction or voice qualities. Thus satisfactory transmissions may beeasily made by the crewman at any time while retaining full use of botharms and hands. This is particularly important when both visual andradio signals are being used.

While the above advantages of the present invention are exemplaryrelated in connection with a particular occupation it will be apparentthat many other occupations involving physical agility and unrestrictedarm use will similarly benefit from the instant invention.

A further object of the invention resides in the removable mountingarrangement for the microphone to permit return of the entire radio unitto its original configuration. Further such mounting is preferably of areleasable type to avoid personal injury should the cord become fouledon other equipment.

The prior art of which I am aware disclosed various throat microphonesfor translating physical throat vibrations into variable electricalcurrents for subsequent amplification and transmission. The presentinvention is believed to be far removed both structurally andfunctionally from this art.

SUMMARY A microphone switch control includes an arm located in theproximity of the user's head for switch-actuating movement thereby byhead movement. This control is in circuit with a microphone controlswitch of a portable two-way radio carried upon a support depending fromthe person's neck. The control switch is actuated upon head movement ofthe user leaving both hands and arms of the user unencumbered.

A summary of the inventions objects are above stated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the microphone switch means andholder in place on the upper torso of a user,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. I with the switch controlshown operably disposed in broken and dashed lines,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the switch and a fragmentof its control,

FIG. 4 is a sectional, detail view of means removable mounting themicrophone and taken along line 44 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a wiring schematic.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continuing reference to thedrawings wherein reference numerals indicate parts similarly identifiedin the following specification, the reference numeral 10 indicatesgenerally the present invention in place on the person.

The invention comprises a base at 11 having an upright plate portionadapted to rest against the user's outer apparel on the upper torso ofthe body. The base is conveniently suspended by a neck strap 12 havingsnap fastener components 13 for engagement with cooperating snapcomponents as at 14 mounted on the base 11. The multiple snap componentsadjacent one strap end permits vertical positioning of the base 11relative to the jaw of the wearer for purposes more fully explainedlater.

With continuing regard to base 11 an outwardly directed support 15 isformed integral therewith to mount a remote microphone componentgenerally at 16 of a personal two-way radio. Remote microphone 16 isconnected in the usual manner by cord 18 to the two-way radio I9 shownwith a fragment of a belt attaching the latter to the wearer's body.

Disposed upon base 11 is a microphone control switch indicated generallyat 17. This switch includes a switch body 20 which is disclosed as beingof the microswitch type characteristically including pressure-sensitivecontacts. The switch body 20 may be of conventional switch constructionhaving a normally open set of contacts one of which being on a flexibleelement for biased closing against a stationary contact. The closable ormovable contact of the present switch body 20 is closed upon inwardtravel of a pushbutton 21, the button having a normally extended offposition as shown in FIG. 2. Overlying the button is a plate 22 with aU-shape mounting bracket 22A hingedly mounted at 23 by a pin to theswitch body 20, as been seen in FIG. 3. Further detailed description ofthe switch body 20 is believed unnecessary as such switch body structureis well known in the switch art.

Attaching switch body 20 to base 11 is a elevis 24 of shaped metal,conveniently spot welded to the base and apertured to receive mountingscrews 25 for the switch body.

Indicated at 26 is a switch control arm of novel configuration andfunction. The lower extremity of the arm is supported by plate 22 forlimited swinging movement such movement being caused in an inwarddirection by head and jaw movement of the user. While the switch controlarm 26 and its supporting plate 22 are shown as being in solderedsecurement it may, for convenience of manufacture, be desired to formthem from one piece of material.

Control arm 26 is disclosed as being formed from wire stock and being ofY-shape as viewed in the front elevation of FIG. I. The branches of theY at 27 extend upwardly terminating alongside the upper throat and belowthe jaw for control of the latter in a convenient manner. The adjustablestrap fasteners 13 earlier described allow vertical positioning of theplate 11 and hence branches 27 to be contacted by the jaw upon forwardinclining of the user's head. Such spacing of the branches from the jawis such as to allow normal unrestricted head movement with anintentional lowering of the head being necessary to bring the jaw intobranch contact.

As viewed in FIG. 2 the switch control arm 26 is shown in broken linesmoved to a position whereat the button 21 has been depressed to closethe contacts in switch body 20 energizing the microphone 16. Also inbroken lines is the inclined head position causing such closure. Furthercontrol arm movement resulting from jaw movement during speaking isshown in dashed lines. Such further movement by control arm 26 ispermitted by the resilient nature of the control arm material and thehinged mounting thereof at 23.

As aforementioned, a microphone 16 for a portable twoway radio issupported on the base 11. in the remote microphone shown a conventionalmicrophone push to talk control is indicated at 29 it being necessary todepress and hold the control 29 thus closing a circuit to energize themicrophone all in a standard manner.

To adapt a conventional portable radio microphone of the remote type touse in the present invention it is merely necessary to incorporate atwo-conductor plug 28 (FIG. in the microphone housing the plug beingwired in parallel via leads 30-30A with the standard contacts 31-32closable by the microphone control 29. A two-conductor jack 33insertable into the plug is provided with conductors 34-35 in a wire 36to put the contacts of switch 20 in parallel circuit with those operatedby control 29. Accordingly, energization of the microphone is nowattainable through switch 20. The

' microphone may also be energized by depressing control 29 if desired.This dual feature allows a radio unit with its remote microphone to bereturned to normal configuration simply upon removal of the jack 33 fromthe microphone installed plug 28 and disengagement of the microphone 16from its support as later described. Conversely plugging in of jack 33permits contacts within the switch body upon closing to complete acircuit through conductors 34-35 and -30A back to the radio unit toenergize or key the microphone.

in microphones for specific use in combination with the presentinvention the microphone control 29 is dispensed with and all microphoneswitching is accomplished by the microphone control switch 17. Thepresent invention further comprehends the use of a combined remotespeakermicrophone unit on support 15 such being found particularlyuseful in high noise level environments where a speaker mounted withinthe radio unit 19 strapped about the body is unsuitable.

The plate 11 with its outwardly extending support portion 15 may withinthe scope of the present invention be utilized as a radio unit holderfor use in those occupations where a light weight radio suspended fromthe users neck would not be objectionable. In such instances themicrophone and speaker would both be contained within radio unit indistinction to the two-way personal radio earlier described having aremote microphone or remote microphone-speaker unit.

In FIG. 4 a sectional view is provided disclosing a microphone mountingarrangement to permit the microphone 16 to be easily detached from itssupport 15. With additional reference to FIG. 1 the support 15 isslotted at 39 to provide an inset area for the sliding reception of abutton 40 projecting from the underside of housing 16. A grommet 42 ofsoft rubber is mounted in place along the bifurcated support 15 andwhich is compressible to receive the reduced central area 41 of thebutton. The grommet grips said central area 41 and permits removal ofthe microphone from the support 15 only upon intentional withdrawal orupon the coiled microphone cord becoming fouled or hung up.

The present invention during use remains in place with its suspendedweight assuring the central positioning shown. The invention leaves, asaforesaid, the user's hands and arms unencumbered to permit variousoccupational tasks. While in no way limiting the application or uses ofthe invention it has been found highly useful by railroad personnelwhose duties include the arduous tasks of coupling of air hoses andapplying hand brakes.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Microphone switch means actuated by the jaw of the user with theswitch means and microphone carried upon a base suspended from the neckof the user, said switch means and the user and including an outwardlyextending support for the microphone, and a microphone control switchcarried by said base and having normallyppen contacts, said controlswitch further includlng a switch control arm of elongate flexiblematerial for biasing the contacts of said switch control into a closedposition closing an electrical circuit to the microphone, said controlarm including upwardly diverging branches each extending in an inclinedmanner subjacently along opposite sides of the users jaw whereby forwardtilting of the users head will cause closure of the switch contacts withsubsequent additional jaw movement occuring during speech beingpermitted by the flexing of the resilient control arm.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base is bifurcatedto receive a rubber grommet with the latter adapted for compressedengagement with a portion of the microphone for microphone retention onthe base and further permitting convenient detachment of the microphonefrom the base.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said microphone includesinternal switch contacts within the microphone housing closeable by amanual control also within the microphone housing, the contacts of saidmicrophone control switch being in parallel circuit with said internalswitch contacts in the microphone, a two-conductor jack insertablewithin a two-conductor plug disposed in said microphone housing wherebythe contacts are detachably connected in parallel circuit permittingkeying of the microphone by either head and jaw movement or manually bythe manual microphone control.

1. Microphone switch means actuated by the jaw of the user with theswitch means and microphone carried upon a base suspended from the neckof the user, said switch means and holder comprising in combination, abase adapted to be adjustably suspended from the neck of the user andincluding an outwardly extending support for the microphone, and amicrophone control switch carried by said base and having normally opencontacts, said control switch further including a switch control arm ofelongate flexible material for biasing the contacts of said switchcontrol into a closed position closing an electrical circuit to themicrophone, said control arm including upwardly diverging branches eachextending in an inclined manner subjacently along opposite sides of theuser''s jaw whereby forward tilting of the user''s head will causeclosure of the switch contacts with subsequent additional jaw movementoccuring during speech being permitted by the flexing of the resilientcontrol arm.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base isbifurcated to receive a rubber grommet with the latter adapted forcompressed engagement with a portion of the microphone for microphoneretention on the base and further permitting convenient detachment ofthe microphone from the base.
 3. The invention as claimed in claim 2wherein said microphone includes internal switch contacts within themicrophone housing closeable by a manual control also within themicrophone housing, the contacts of said microphone control switch beingin parallel circuit with said internal switch contacts in themicrophone, a two-conductor jack insertable within a two-conductor plugdisposed in said microphone housing whereby the contacts are detachablyconnected in parallel circuit permitting keying of the microphone byeither head and jaw movement or manually by the manual microphonecontrol.